Jeff's Recovery Expenses Fundraiser

Hi, I'm Susie Fulk and these are my parents Jeff and Linda Kowalk.

My parents have been part of the Vernon and Show Low community for 25 years. My dad has always been a hardworking, self sufficient provider. He is a strong man, a fine carpenter of many talents; full of integrity and strength. I'll always believe my Dad is the strongest man I know and has instilled the value of hard work and planning ahead.

Unfortunately, these passed few months have not been a part of the plan for my mom and him.

In 2021, Jeff was diagnosed with Lymphoma.

He went forward with the chemotherapy treatments and followed the protocol of the doctors.

During this time he was able to support themselves financially and surprisingly worked most of the time during treatment. They worried about how the cancer would affect their lives. During his chemo treatments, my parents were able to remodel their home in Vernon and sell in order to move closer to my grandparents in town to help them as they are almost 90. Jeff built a beautiful home for his in laws, all while recovering from chemotherapy treatments.

He never asked for any help.

He never complained.

His cancer has been in remission this past year and we have been thankful for that.

This past July, Jeff started having symptoms of gastrointestinal problems. What started out as what seemed to be a virus turned into a horrific nightmare for my parents.

My dad sought help over and over throughout the next month. Doctors, urgent cares, hospitals. He was turned away, misdiagnosed and left in alot of serious pain and unanswered questions.

When the pain became so unbearable, Summit doctors had no choice and decided to cut him open because they had no answers. His bowel had perforated and his body had become septic. Fighting an undiagnosed septic infection for weeks is almost un heard of. His body swollen and in pain we wondered, "how did this get so bad?" We got him out of Show Low hospital as soon as we could and sought better care. The ICU in Phoenix saved him.

Jeff has been through almost a dozen surgeries and parts of intestine removed. In a medical coma on a ventilator for a week. He had so many IV hook ups I couldn't recognize him.

He has had serious trauma to his organs. He was in ICU in Phoenix for 5 weeks and is now is a very good rehabilitation center in Scottsdale.

He has a long road to recovery now. Jeff has lost 40 pounds since this began. He is learning again how to walk, eat and slowly process foods. He has to have a colostomy bag for another 6 months until they can hopefully repair the intestine.

My mom has been with him almost every day to support and advocate his care. This has been a heartbreaking and difficult time for the family.

Jeff called me yesterday asking for help. His voice was almost unrecognizable and his heart is broken. Asking me to reach out to the community and neighbors for anything they could spare during our time of need to help with expenses as their savings have run out. Jeff is a humble man and has never reached out for assistance. I know it was hard for him to ask.

Please share, and above all prayers for Jeff and Linda.

Thank you for reading! ♥️